Tramway-track mechanisi



(No Model.)

J. H. 000K. TRAMWAY TRACK MECHANISM.

Patented Dec. 21. 1897.

Wirzaw 66 W mums PETERS ca, PNOTO-LITHU WASHINGYON n c UNITED STATES PATENT EETcE.

JOHN H. COOK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY B. NEIVHALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW J ERSEY.

TRAMWAY-TRACK M ECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 596,015, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed October 26,1896.

that class of tracks used as trams for transferring movable loads from one place to another, the common use of such tramways being that of transferring provisions, beef, ice, &c., from one place to another of provisionhouses, hotels, markets, &c. In all such cases one of the desired features of such a tramway system is a track or rail of suitable strength and stiffness, and yet light and compact in construction, fitting it to be readily erected or taken down and readily adapted to being variously shaped, as for curves.

One feature of the invention relates to a new and improved track embodying the above requisites; and it consists, essentially, of a plate or sheet of metal shaped in the form of a hollow rail, the cross-section of the same being that of an extended rectangle, the breadth of such track being considerably greater than its thickness, and the two opposite edges of the metal composing the track meeting approximately at the middle line between the two edges of the track.

Another feature of invention relates to new and improved supports for engagingand supporting the track, whereby the track can be readily fixed to its hangers or supports or removed therefrom, which feature of invention will be more particularly described in the specification to follow.

The third feature of invention relates to the track-carriers, and consists, essentially, of two grooved wheels whose frames, or the parts in which the wheels are pivotally carried, are pivotally attached to a common yoke or cross bar, said frames being freeto swivel Serial No. 610,015. (No model.)

or turnrelatively to the yoke as is necessary for them to change position in following a curved or other non-rectilinear track. This feature of invention also includes a carrier in which there are wheels running onthe under as well as the upper or lower edge of the track, this particularly for the purpose of preventing the wheels from jumping or being otherwise removed from the track.

Figure l of the drawings shows a side elevation of one form of my tramway mechanism, together with my form of hollow track. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on plane a a.

Referring to these views in detail, A representsthe hollow track, which is composed of plate or other thin metal, which is bent into tubular form, the cross-section of which is'practically of extended rectangular form, particularly as seen in Fig. ll The edges of the metal composing the track meet at B or between the upper and lower edges or treads of the rail 0. This construction results in a track easily bent to such curved form as may be desired and having all required rigidity and lightness.

D indicates the track-support, which, as illustrated, is in the form of a hanger designed to depend from a ceiling or overhead wall. In the case of supporting the track from below the same, as from the floor, this supporting device of the hanger would be reversed in position. This hanger is provided with the foot or bracket E, which carries two lugs F, cast or otherwise made integral with the same, and these lugs enter through holes G in the center of the track, a nut or screw H passing through the track, and the hangerfoot serves to hold the track in place on the said lugs. These lugs take the place of the various constructions of shoulders, brackets, &c., heretofore usually attached to or carried by the hanger and located underneath the track-that is, heretofore such track-supporting devices have usually been located so that the underneath part or the lower edge of the track bore on the same, thus preventing use of an underrunning wheel. In the present case I arrange that the track-engaging parts of the hanger may engage the track along its central line or between its upper and lower edges, which leaves said edges free for purposes especially, as will be hereinafter described, as to lower or under trolley wheel or wheels.

I indicates one of the upper grooved wheels, which is pivotally mounted in the suspensionframe J of stirrup-like form. K indicates the other grooved wheel, and L its frame. These two frames are secured together and held relatively by the yoke or cross barsM and N, the trolley-wheel frames being pivotally connected with these bars by pivot-bolts J and L. To the lower yoke-bar N is secured the swiveleyebolt 0, to whichis to be hung the article, weight, or other thing to be transferred from one place to another along the tramway-track. In the lower ends of the carryingwheel frames J and L are journaled the underrunning flanged wheels P and Q, the peripheries of which form a guide on the under edges of the track.

It will now be plain that the two grooved wheels I and K may swivel or turn according as the track changes from rectilinear to curved or other line of travel, which results in a minimum of friction and the maximum of ease in moving the trolley-tram. IVhatever the line of the track, each trolley-wheel frame is free to take its own particular and adaptive movement relatively to the track and independently of the other wheel. Thus it will be seen I have a double-wheeled tram mechanism each of the grooved wheels of which can act individually on the track and change their position in accordance with the plane of the track and without restraint by the action of the other wheel or wheels. It will also be seen that the underneath wheels P and Q act to keep the trolley-tram mechanism from escaping the track, as the same is variously manipulated in attaching and detaching loads to and from the same and in running such loads from point to point. I11 case it is desired to more fully lock the track mechanism on the rail than is effected by the one-fiange wheels P and Q these wheels may be reversed, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, or two-flange wheels may be used.

here one section of the track above described joins another section, it is preferred to insert in the ends of each joining section a junction-bar, (indicated in dotted lines at R in Fig. 1.) This junction-bar acts to prevent one end of one section varying as to linear position of the track from an adjoining section.

The constructions herein illustrated and described may be variously modified, as will be understood by those skilled in this particular art, and therefore I do not limit myself to the particular forms shown in the drawings.

Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. In combination with a hollow track, a hanger or support therefor carrying one or more lugs (such as F F), and a track pierced or bored to receive said lugs at a point between its upper and lower edges, and means (such as bolt II) for locking the said track to said lugs, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. In combination with a hanger D and its foot-bracket .E and lugs F carried by the same, a hollow track A, B, 0 having holes through the same between its upperand lower tread edges and mounted upon said lugs, and means for clamping the said rail to the said hanger, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A tramway mechanism composed of two or more sets of grooved wheels, each of which set consists of two wheels one adapted to bear upon the upper edge and the other upon the under edge of a track, each set of wheels being mounted in framework or supports which has independent swivel motion relatively to the other sets, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In combination with the grooved wheels I K adapted to run on the upper edge of rail, the underneath flanged wheels P Q adapted to run on the lower edge of said rail, said wheels I and P and the said wheels K and Q being pivotally mounted in the frames J and L, and said frames being pivotally connected together by the yokes M and N, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the hanger D carrying the lugs F F, the tubular track A B C supported upon said lugs, and a tramway mechanism composed essentially of the two grooved wheels I and K carried in frames J and L and which have swivel connections with cross-bars M and N, substantially as herein set forth.

JOHN H. COOK. lVitnesses:

RoBT. F. GAYLORD, RAPHAEL Newman. 

